Combination table and ironing board



Feb. 26, 1929.

H. J. BUCK COMBINATION TABLE AND IRONING BOARD A5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJan. 22, 1925 Feb. 26, 1929.

H. J. BUCK COMBINATION TABLE AND InoNING BOARD Filed Janv.' 22, 1925 3Sheets-Sheet 3 'HIIIHIIIIIIIHIHI IHHIIIII Hllll HERMA/vfz/c PatentedFeb. 26, 1929. y

PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN Tx BUCK, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CQMBINATION TABLE AND IRONING BOARD.

Application filed January 22, 1925. Serial No. 4,052.

This invention relates to improvements in combination tables and ironingboards particularly adapted for domestic use, and more particularlyrelates to such a structure having a foldable orv Collapsibleironingboard which may conveniently be stored in a chamber provided inthe table, when not in use.

An object of the invention is to provide such a structure wherein thetable provides the ,supporting means for one end of the ironing boardwhen in raised operative position, while the other end of the board issupported by a pair of foldab-le legs pivotally connected thereto. f

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination table andironing board so constructed t-hat when the board is withdrawn from thetable and its legs are unfolded to support it, the top of the ironingboard will automatically be elevated to a convenient position above theplane of the top of a table of standard height' (for example thirtyinches) and to the standard height (forexample thirty-two inches) of anironing board.

A further object is toV provide a structure of the above classcomprising a foldable ironing board of simple and inexpensiveconstruction whioh may quickly and conven@ iently be foldedtogether andinserted in the table for storage, and may as readily be withdrawntherefrom and unfolded to a raised position, ready for use.

A further object is to, provide means for securely locking the ironingboard to the table when in raised operative position.-

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription and the aecompanying drawings and will be particularlypointed out in the claims.

In thel accompanying drawings there `has been disclosed a structuredesigned to carry out the various objects .of the invention, but it isto be understood that the invention is not confined to .the exactfeatures shown, as various changes may bemade within the scope of theclaims which follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, 5

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the table with the ironingboardfin'raised position; i 4 i f Figure 2 is a sectional view of aportion of the table showing the ironing board partially folded forsubsequent insertion in the table; Figure 3 is asimilar View showing theironing board completely folded together before beingv shoved into thechamber provided in the table.;

lFigure 4 is a view showingthe ironing board positioned within thetable; Figure 5 is a bottoni view of the ironing board when in foldedposition, the outline of the table being shown in dotted lines; Figure 6is an end view of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on theline 7-7 of Figure 1;

-Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal seotion of a board and a portion ofa table embodying my invention, the parts being extended ready for use;I

. Figure 9 is a sectionall view of the table and an elevation of theboard, the board being folded ready for insertion into the chamberprovided in the table;

Figure 10 is a plan view looking from below, of the arts shown in Figure8;

In the se ected embodiment of the invention here shown there isillustrated a table comprising `a top 11 having a chamber 12 ar-y rangedtherebeneath which is open at one end to receive the ironing board. Adoor 13 is preferably provided on the end of the table to close thechamberV 12 when the ironing board has been inserted therein as' shownin Figure 4. The table is supported by the usual legs 14.

A feature of this invention resides in the novel meansk provided forsupporting the ironing board and automatically elevating it above theplanel of the table top when in raised position as shown in Figure 1. It'will' be understood that the level of an ordinary table top is too lowVfor convenient ironing, and when an ironing board is attachedto t-he topof a table the use-r finds the top of the board lower than it shouldbeto enable a per- 4 son to handle an iron easily, and hence an importantfeature of this invention is to provide'means which, when the ironingboard isV drawn out of thetable'and set up, will cause it to be raisedabove the table top to the normal level of an ironing board. In thisway, Il am able lto utilize-the table as a` means for supporting andconcealing theboard when not in, use and at the Sametime provide for bystuds 21.

setting up the board so that it will be fully as convenient for use asone that is set up or used entirely independent of the table. Theironing board preferably comprises a main section 15 having an endsection 16 pivotally connected thereto by means of hinges 17 which maybe of any suitable construction applicable for the purpose. As shown inthe drawings one end of the ironing board is preferably supported by apair of inclined leg sections 18 having their upper ends pivotallyconnected to a pair of spaced links 19 The leg sections 18 and the links19 form the supporting means for the outer portion of the board when setup. rlhe lupper ends of the links 19 are pivotally connected to thedepending end portions of a bar 28 secured to the under side of thesection 15 of the ironing board. The diagonal brace links 241- arepivotally connected to the upper ends of the leg sections 18 adjacentthe pivots 21 while the upper ends thereof are similarly connected to apair of oscillating links 25 preferably having their upper endsconnected to the end of the ironing board by means of pins 26.

The other end of the ironing board ad jacent the table is supported bymeans of a pair of inclined links 27 which have their upper endspivotally connected to a cross member 28 secured to the under side ofthe board. The lower end portions 29 of the supporting links 27 arepreferably bent, as shown, so that when the table is in raised position,as shown in Figure 1, they will be substantially parallel to the tabletop 11 and the bottom wall 31 of the chamber 12. rlhtse end portions aresupported by the bottom 81 of the table. A. substantially U-shaped crossmember 32 is secured to t-he lower ends of the links 27 and functions toretain them in spaced parallel. relation. rlhis cross member preferablydepends below the lower edge of the end portion 29 so that when theironing board is drawn outwardly to the position shown in Figure 1, itwill drop into a transverse slot 38 provided in the wall 31 of thetable, thereby preventing the ironing board from accidentally becomingseparated or disconnected from the table when being pulled outwardlyprior to being unfolded. A cross har 34 is secured to the cross member82 and this bar functions to guide the end of the ironing board whenbeing'shoved into the chamber 12, the ends thereof being adapted toengage the side walls of the chamber 12 as shown in Figures 5 and 6.Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the inclinedsupporting links 27 are also pivotally connected to the diagonal bracelinks 24 by means of pivots 35. hus when the leg sections and links arefolded as shown in Figure 2, the supporting links 27 will also beoscillated from their pivotal connection Awith the under side of theironing board.

Means are provided on the inclined supporting links 27 for securelylocking the board to the table when in the position shown in Figure 1.Such means preferably consists of a pair of upwardly extending lugs ormembers 36 having their lower ends secured to the supporting links 27and having their upper ends arranged to engage the under side of thetable top 11 when the board is raised. rllhusit will be seen that whenthe table has been unfolded and raised to the position shown in lFigure1, the end portions 29 of the links 27 will bear against th-e upper faceof the bottom wall 31 of the chamber 12 and the upper end of theupwardly extending lugs or members 86 will bear against the under sideof the table top l1, thereby securely locking the ironing board to thetable.

llVhen it is desired to fold the lironing board so that it may beinserted into the chamber 12 of the table, the end section 16 of theboard will first be folded to the position shown inFigure 2. The userwill then grasp the hand-grip 87 provided on one end of a cleat 38secured to the under side of the section 15 ofthe board and which cleatfunctions to lsupport the end section 16 when in unfolded position. Theleg sections 18 will then be folded as shown in Figure 2 until theyassume the position shown in Figure 3 after which the entirD lironin gboard may be shoved into the chamber 12 of the table and the end door 18thereof be closed as shown in Figure a. l/Vhen the ironing board isbeing folded as above described, it will be noted that the leg sectionsare swung inwardly and that the links 19 are outwardly swung in theopposite direction. Such action of the leg sections 18 and links 19 willcause the diagonal brace links 24 to oscillate the links `27 or swinglthem upwardly against the bottom of the ironing board as shown in Figure8. Vhen the links 27 are thus swungupwardly against the ironing board,the lugs 36 will be moved downwardly away from the under side of thetable top, the end portions 29 of the links functioning as a fulcrum orsupporting means for the entire ironing board as it is being foldedprior to being inserted in the chamber 12. Referring to Figure 3, itwill be seen that when the ironing Vboard has been completely folded,the U-shaped member 82, secured to the lower ends of the supportinglinks 27, will be sufficiently raised out of the transverse slot 88 toallow the inclined bo-ttoinface thereof to slide over the edge thereofas the board is being movedv into the table. By reference to this sameligure, it will also be seen that when the ironing board is drawnoutwardly to theposition here 't shown, the U-shaped member will dropVinto the transverse slot 33 and will thereby prevent the ironing boardfrom becoming completely withdrawn or disconnected from the table.Referring particularly to Figures 5 and 6,

llO

the upper ends ofthe leg sections 18 and thatthe links 19 are pivotallyconnected tothese straps which comprise the upper ends of the legsections 18. Outwardly projecting stop lugs 41 are secured to the upperends of the straps 39 and function to retain the leg sectionssubstantially in alignment with the links 19 when the ironing board isin raised position as shown in Figure 1. These lugs, as shown in Figure`6, are adapted to overhang the edges of the links 19 and thereby enga gesuch edges when the board is raised.

In Figures 8, 9 and 10, there is shown an ironing board of modifiedconstruction, comprising a top 42 having its outer end supported bymeans of a supporting leg 43. A cross-bar 44 is secured to the boardadjacent its opposite end and to this cross bar are pivotally connecteda pair of inclined supporting links 45 having their lower ends adaptedto bear uponthe upper surface of the bottom wall 31 of the chamber 12 ofthe table. The lower ends of the links 45 are tied together by means ofa cross member 46 secured thereto. This cross member functions in amanner similar to the U-shaped cross member 32A shown in the previousfigures. A guide bar 47 is also secured to the ends of the links 45 toguide the table into the chamber 12 as shown in Figure 10.

The means provided for locking the links 45 in the position shown inFigure 8 consists of a. U-shaped member 48 having its spaced endportions pivotally connected to the arms 45. The upper ends of theUshaped member 48 are pivotally connected to a pair of short oscillatinglinks 49 by means of hinges 51. The upper ends of the links 49 arepivotally connected to the under side of the ironing board. When it isdesired to lower the ironing board for insertion in the table, theU-shaped member 48 will be oscillated upon its center as shown in dottedlines in Figure 9, thereby causing the supporting links 45 to be swungupwardly against the bottom of the board. The leg 43 may then be foldedand the board shoved into the cham ber 12 of the table after which theend door 13 may be closed. Referring to Figures 8 and 9, it will be seenthat the supporting links 45 are provided with a raised portion 52 whichfunctions to engage the under side ofthel table top 11 when the board israised, thereby locking the board securely to the table. The legsections 18 are also preferably'provided with diagonal lbraces 42 asshown in Figures 5 and 6. j

The novel ironing board featured in this invention may advantageously beused in connection with the tables ordinarily employed with thewell-known breakfast nooks now commonly used in small apartments and inmany homes. By utilizing the space beneath the table it will be readilyseen that no yadditional room or space will be required in which tostore itwhen not in use, and it will rvlso be ready for immediate usewhenever desired.

Anfim'portant feature of this invention is the provision for folding theboard and the supporting leg into a compactform to'adapt vkitchen of amodern apartment, and the table having the chamber to receive such aboard must be correspondingly large, and Asuch an equipment hasbeenfound too large for a small kitchen. My invention provides a foldingsection for the board, permitting it to be considerably reduced inlength when not in use, and also provides a folding leg so that when theboard is not in use, it can be considerably shortened and stored away inthe chamber of a comparatively small table, thus effecting aconsiderable economy in the space required for the table and board.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a table, having a recess under the top thereof,of an ironing board adapted to fit and slide in said recess to aconcealed position under said top, a leg pivotally connected with theouter portion of said boardto support the same, a. link pivotallyconnected to said board adjacent the table and having means to slide insaid recess and enga-ge the walls thereof when the board is set up tolock it on the table with the adjacent end of the boardv raised abovethe level of the table, and means connecting said link with saidboard-'supporting leg, to cause said link to raise theboard above thelevel ofV the table as said board-supporting leg moves to supportingposition.

2. In combination with a table, a board, a leg pivoted to the board, alink pivotally connected at one end to the leg, and movably connected atits opposite end to the board, and a second link pivoted to the firstlink and to the board, said link having its .outer end removablyanchored to the table and having a stop engaged with the table top andcooperating with said first link to lock the board to the table at apredetermined level above the top of the table.

3. The combination with a table having a chamber formedtherein having aslot in its bottom, of an ironing board adapted to slide into saidchamber, links pivotallyconnected with said board, means carried by saidlinks and adapted to enter said slot in the bottom of said chamber whensaid board is drawn out, said links having means for contactr with thevupper wall vof said chamber,.legs pivoted on said board, and meansyconnecting said legs with said links for moving said links lntoclamping engagement -with the walls of said Y chamber when said legs areunfolded.

4. A table having a chamber and a foldable the brace link and to theboard, and 'having ironing board adapted to be housed in the stopsengageable by the Walls of the chamber chamber, a supporting leg pivotedto the to limit outward movement. board and Composed of pivoted togetherup- In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my 5 per and lower sections,a. brace link pivoted to hand this 8th clay of December, 1924.

Jche lower leg section and movab-ly connected to the board and asupporting link pivoted to HERMAN J. BUCK.

